Door lock



March 13, 1956 2,738,212

R. H. WISE DOOR LOCK Filed July 28, l952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 56???? BY om ATTORNE VS March 13, 1956 R, WISE 2,738,212

DOOR LOCK Filed July 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEVS United States Patent() DOOR LOCK Ralph H. Wise, Wayne, Mich., assigner to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates generally to door locks, and particularly to door locks of the rotatable bold type for motor vehicle doors.

An object of the present invention is to provide a door lock mechanism of the type having a rotatable bolt and a rotatable ratchet in which the required functions of a motor vehicledoor lock are obtained with a minimum of moving parts. Among the requirements of door lock mechanisms for automotive vehicles are: operation from the exterior of the vehicle both by a handle and by a key operated locking device, and operation and control from inside the vehicle both by means of a handle and a locking button. These Objectives and others are obtained by the present construction by the utilization or" only three levers, namely, `(l) a manually actuated operating lever, (2) a locking lever, and (3) a remote control lever. The operating lever is actuable from the exterior of the vehicle and incorporates as an integral part thereof a pawl engageable withthe rotatable ratchet. The operating lever also has a portionv engageable with a blocking portion on the locking lever to prevent'unauthorized manual actuation of the operating lever to release the pawl portion thereof from the ratchet. The locking lever is arranged to be actuated by the exterior keyactuated device, by the interior lock button, and by the interior remote control lever, and in its locked position prevents actuation of the operating lever. The re mote control lever is operated by the interior handle and upon actuation rst engages a portion of the locking lever to move the latter out of blocking engagement with the operating lever. engages an arm of the operating lever to release the lat# ter from engagement with the ratchet.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: v l

Figure l is a perspective view of the door lock mechanism of the presentinvention, showing certain associated parts in phantom. y

Figure 2 is an elevational view, partly in Section, of

the door lock mechanism as viewed from the interior of the door.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the door lock mechanism as viewed from the jamb face of the door.

The door lock shown in the drawings is designed particularly for the right front door of a motor vehicle. The lock mechanism is mounted upon anvL-shaped mounting plate 11 having flanges 12 and 13 extending substantially at right angles to each other. The plate 12 is provided with three screw bosses 14 by means of which the mountingplate` may be secured to the inner side of the jamb face of the door. The ange 13 of thefmounting plate extendsV along the inner door panel-.of the vehicle. The lock is provided with a rotatable toothed latch or rotor 16, Figure 4, formed with six equally spaced pe- Subsequently, the remote controllever` ICC ripheral teeth 17, and spaced from the iiange 12 of the mounting plate by means of a shield 18. The rotor 16 has an integral shank 19, Figure 2, rotatably mounted in the ange 12 of the mounting plate. The end of the shank 19 is flattened and extends through a correspondingly shaped aperture in a rotatable toothed ratchet 21 and is riveted thereto. The ratchet is likewise formed with six equally spaced peripheral teeth 22 aligned generally with the teeth 17 of the rotor. shield 23 spaces the ratchet from the flange l2 of the mountingplate. The teeth 17 of the rotor 16 are adapted to be engaged by a conventional keeper rigidly mounted on the adjacent door pillar and received between the rotor 16 andthe dovetail 24.

Referring now to Figures l and 2, a shoulder rivet 26 ismounted upon theflange 12 of the mounting plate 11 and forms a pivotal mounting for the operating lever 27. The operating lever 27l is formed with three integral generally radially extending arms 28, 29 and 31. Arm 28 extends vertically above the pivot 26 and is arranged to be engaged and actuated by a conventional exterior push button 32. Arm 29 extends downwardly from the pivot 26 and constitutes a pawl engageable with the' adjacent tooth 22 of the ratchet 21 to prevent rotation of the latter in a clockwise direction as seen in Figures 1 and 2. Arm 31 extends transversely along the inner side of ilange 12 of the mounting plate 11 and through a slot 33 formed in the flange 13 of the mounting plate. A tongue 34 is struck out from the ilange 12 of the mounting plate and is encircled by a rubber grommet 36 to provide a resilient stop for the arm 31 of the operating lever. `Acoil spring 37 surrounds the shoulder rivet 26 and has its inner end anchored in a slot formed in the rivet and its outer end 39 extending through a slot 41 formed in the lower end of the operating lever 27 to constantly urge the arm 31 of the lever against the grommet 36.- w

A locking'lever 42 having three arms 43, 44 and 46 is pivotally' mounted upon a hollow shoulder rivet 47 extending through the flange 13 of the mounting plate. Fl`he rivet 47 is formed with a square opening 48 therethrough adapted to receive Vthe square shank 49 extending from the `lock cylinder 51 mounted upon the exterior of the vehicle door for actuation by a key 52. Rotation of the shank 49 by the key accordingly affects a correspond ing rotation of thelocking lever 42.

As best seen in Figures l and 3, the outwardly extending arm 44 of thelocking lever 42 is cut away adjacent its upper end to form a shoulder 53 extending, in the locked position ofthe locking lever 42, beneath the laterally extending arm 31 of the operating operating lever 27. It will be apparent that in this position of the locking lever rotation of the operating lever 27 is blocked and the latter cannot be Operated to swing the pawl arm 29 of the lever out of engagement with the ratchet 21. Clockwise rotation of the locking lever 42 under the actuation of the key operated lock cylinder 51 swings the upper arm 44 of the lever out of engagement with the arm 31 of the operating lever 27 so that the latter can be manually operated to release the pawl arm 29 from the ratchet and unlatch the lock mechanism.

Arm 43 of the operating lever 42 extends generally at right angles to the body portion of the lever along the inner side of the flange 12 of the mounting plate 11. The outer end of the arm 43, in the locked position of the locking lever 42 as shown in Figures l and 2, lies in`the path of rotation of the teeth 22 `of the rotatable ratchet 21. Consequently, counterclockwise rotation of the ratchet causedA by closing a locked door results in swinging the arm 43 of the locking lever upwardly. This upward movement of arm 43 causes a clockwise rotation of the locking lever 42 which continues until arm A sheet metal locking lever. and the.y other end. connected tothe Hange- 13 ofthemounting plate. The springfunction's to yie1d. ably hold the locking lever ineither its locked or unlocked position until moved `by some. actuating. force.

Thethird arm 460i theY lockinglever, 42aextends alongr the flange 13 of the `.mountingppl-ate.. Theouter end of4 the arm 46 is. olsetto, provideclearancefor the lower arm 56 of. the .remotecontrol bellcrank'leverSf/ The bell. crank-lever 57, ispivotally, mounted. bymeans of a. rivetSSupon the. ilange 1.3;of themounting. plate and has integrally formed therewith an upperarm,59 extending along theange 13. of thernounting plate in overlapping relationship with the endr of, the arm 31 ofthe operating lever. 27. The, lowerl arm 56 o'f.the..bell crank lever. is connected by meansof. a link; 61 and. crank arm 62 to an inner manually operated handle 63 located remote fromv the lock mechanism. The-.lower arm 56 of the bellcrank lever. 57 isformed withl ailange 64 extending at right angles thereto and overlapping the end of `arm 46 .of the locking lever.

Itwill bev apparent that upon operation ofA the remote4 control handle 63.from the interiori of the vehicleto.

swingA the bell cranklever 5,7 inra counterclockwise direction as seen in Figures l and,3,vthe offset flange 64 of thebell crank lever-'will engage the arm.146.of.the locking lever to swing the latter in a: clockwise direction fromY the locked position shown .in these viewsto Ithe unlocke position.

Upon reference particularly to Figure Il,r it will be seen that the upper armI 590i the .bell crank1lever, in its; normal position before operation ofthe remote control. handle. 63, is spaced at itsy outer enda.- distance above end of the upper arm 59 of the bell cranklever with.

the arm 31` of the operating; lever 27. Furthermove-v ment` of, the bell crank lever by the remotecontrolof;

the interior handlev 63= resultsin swinging3arm-31. ofl the operating lever downwardly and-moving. the. paw1 .arm

29` of the.- operating leverV out-of; engagement witlntherotatable ratchet 2l.` Operationo theinterion handle.

63 thus actuatesthelocking leverl 42 andthe Operating lever 27 in sequence so. that'thedocking lever, is moved;

out of the path of .the arm-31 of 'the operating lever.

prior to engagement of the latter by'thefarmz595 ofthefy bell crank lever.`

The lockinglever 42 can also'be moved betwcenpits; locked and unlocked positions byv means of: the; usual'. push button control 66mountedv atthe upper endto; a rod. 67 extendingthrough the` garnish molding; 68 of;

the vehicle door and connectedI at, its; lowerA` end to;the. locking lever 42.

It will be understoodthat the; invention is not toibe;

limited to the exactl construction shown.. and described,.

but that variouschanges andimodifications-maybe-made without departing from, thespirib and scopes-of the. invenf tion, as defined in the-appended claims.

Whatis claimed is.:

1. In a latch mechanism for a. motorfvehicle-door, atY

support mounted upon said. door. adjacentancedgeathereof; a toothed. rotor rotatably mounted uponsaid .support at onesidethereof, a toothedratchet on theopposite-side of said support from saidrotor and mounted for-rotation with" said rotor as a unit, a manually-'operable lever pivotally mounted upon said support and' having anintegral pawl portion adapted toengagei one ofthe` teeth 4'. of said' ratchet to hold said" ratchet and rotor against rotation in one direction, and a locking lever pivotally mounted upon said support and having a blocking portion selectively engageable with said manually operable lever to prevent pivotal movement of the latter in a direction to disengage the pawl portion of said lever from said ratchet, said manually operable lever and said locking lever being pivotally mounted for rotation about axes extending substantially at right angles to each other and said locking lever having an arm extending angularly therefrom adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet,. and a second manually operable lever .pivotally mountedM upon said support and having portions engageable with said lock-ing lever and 'with said .frstxmentioned'fmanually operable lever to move said leversfromtheir locked to their unlocked positions.

in a latch mechanism for a motor vehicle door, an L-shaped mounting plate secured to said door with one. flange of said lplate positioned. adjacent. thejamb face of thevdoor and the. other flange. of said plateposie tioned adjacent the inner panel of said door,a.too'thed.

rotor rotatably mounted upon said iirstmentionedange onthe outer` side thereof, aftoothedratchet ontlie inner. side of saidange and mounted for. rotationwithsaid' rotor` as a runt, a manually operablevv lever pivotally.

mounted upon said first mentioned flange and having. an integral pawl. portion adapted to engage the. teeth.

of said ratchet to hold said ratchetand rotonagainstrotaf itspivotal connection and providedwitha blockingportion adapted tobe engaged byY theiarmvofsaid manually operable lever to prevent pivotal movementof thelever in a..directiontodisengage thepawlportion of saidv manuallyy operable lever from, said ratchet, and al second manually operable lever pivotally `mountedupton. said` second mentioned flange for rotation aboutan axis parallel to the'pivotal axis `oli-.said locking lever, said.

second mentionedmanually operable lever having a first portion.. adapted to engage.saidlocking-lever. toswing thelatter about :its pivotal mountingfromdts-locked to its.

unlocked positionand asecond portion yadapted'toengage. thearm ofv saidlirst mentioned manually operablelever tofswing. the latter about its pivotaLasris in.a4 direction to disengage the pawlportion of said lirstmentionedi manually operable lever fromrsaid rotatable, ratchet.:

3.- The structure. defined byl claim. 2,. which is-further characterized invthatthe second portionrA said; second mentioned manually operable lever. is.A normally,4 spaced sullcientfdistance from the arm-of. saidfiirst mentioned manually operable lever. sothat initial rotation of said.

second mentioned manually operable lever.y about its pivotal ,mounting moves `said l'locking lever fromitsloclred tov itsv unlocked. position and. further rotation of. said second mentioned manually operable lever movesasaid. lirst mentioned manually. operable lever.- from its -locked to its unlocked,-.p.osition.1

4. In a latchmechanismzforfa motor; vehicle door, van L-shaped mountingplate. .secured tosaid door withone angeof.:said plate positioned adiacentthejamb. face/or' the: door: and' the., second ange ,ofi said". plate: positionedA adjacent theinner'panel offy said door, aatoothedzrotor. rotatably mounted--uponsaid rst-.ange Aony the `outer-side thereof, -a toothedratchet on the inner :sido'off' said"`'1'st ange-mounted forrotation -vvithI said` rotor-'as 'a' unit; a manually-operable lever'pivotally mounted'upomsaid'iirst Bange and; havingl 'arry integral pawl' portion; 'adapted-A to engage theteeth of-'said ratchet to' hold4 saidratchetand rotor.*against-rotationinA one direction, saidI leyerhaving an arm extending along said first flange and terminating adjacent said second llange, a locking member pivotally mounted upon said second flange and having a blocking portion adapted to engage said arm of said lever to prevent pivotal movement of the latter in a direction te disengage the pawl portion of said lever from said ratchet, said locking member having an arm extending along said second flange, and a bell crank lever pivotally mounted upon said second llange and having a first arm adapted to engage the arm of said locking member and a second arm adapted to engage the arm of said manually operable lever to move said member and said lever from their locked to their unlocked positions.

5. The structure defined by claim 4 which Vis further characterized in that the arms of said bell crank lever are so arranged with respect to the arms of said locking member and manually operable lever respectively that the initial pivotal movement of said bell crank lever swings the rst arm of the bell crank lever into engagement with the arm of the locking member to move the latter to its unlocked position prior to engagement of the second arm of said bell crank lever with the arm of said manually operable lever.

6. The structure dened by claim 4 which is further characterized in that said locking member has a second arm formed integrally therewith and extending along the rst flange of said mounting piate with its outer end located in the path of movement of the teeth of said rotatable ratchet so that rotation of said ratchet in one direction swings the second arm of said locking member about the pivotal connection of said locking member to move the blocking portion of said locking member out of engagement with the arm of said manually operable lever.

7. The structure delined by claim 4 which is further characterized in that the second arm of said bell crank lever is normally spaced from the arm of said manually operable lever so vthat initial rotation of said bell crank lever swings said locking member out of locking position with respect to the arm of said manually operable lever prior to engagement of said last mentioned arm by the second arm of said bell crank lever.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,094,413 Schonitzer Sept. 28, 1937 2,552,815 Roethel May l5, 1951 2,557,468A Roethel June 19, 1951 

